Over the last few decades, the number of elderly hasincreased in Sweden and many other countries in the world. Swedish society has struggled to provide support to meet the needs of this group of elderly. Many older people wish to move from their present homes into homes for the elderly where they can receive full support and services. Numerous older people report a lack of ability to cope with all of their household needs and daily activities. As people get older, there are different dimensions of changes, including becoming frail and unwell.

This study includes 10 interviews with older people. Participants were informed of the ethical issues related to this study and then gave their consent. The interviews examined older peoples understanding and experiences of security and vulnerability when living at home. The work reflects on themes such as security, insecurity, health and social capital. The study aims to contribute increased knowledge to the field about this group of elderly and to broaden our knowledge of how the field of social work can better relate to this group based on these findings.

The study participants were able to describe their perceptions of dimensions of safety in the home and the impact of vulnerability due to health difficulties. Results showed gender differences with women being more fearful than the men as well as a strong connection with impaired health. The women also had different feelings of vulnerability and a lack of social capital. All of the male participants claimed to be secure in their own homes. At the same time, they were very concerned about problems on the horizon related to changes in the welfare system. Several of the women had concrete strategies to protect themselves. These strategies included: door chains, security alarms, visible deterrents such as a police hat placed out in the house and visible from the outside. Participants also completed safety steps such as checking their doors multiple times. Finally, this study reminds us that the needs and concerns of older people are an area of importance in the broader social arena.

This qualitative study on international development aid explores the effects of gender mainstreaming in social protection systems in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on gender equality, women's empowerment and family structures. The study features a historical background of gender mainstreaming in politics, but also today's international commitment to combat extreme poverty. The study highlights the initiative of the Swedish international aid to reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. A total of four semi-structured interviews were conducted with highly qualified public servants representing the international foreign aid, representing The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), The Institute of Latin American Studies at Stockholm University and UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti. The results showed that a gender-based foreign aid in the form of social cash transfers that aims to promote gender equality, helps to reduce extreme poverty. In addition, the results showed that further research is required to see the direct effects of aid directed at women as compared with aid directed at men, as well as the impact of aid on women's empowerment and the family structures of aid recipients. The conclusion of this study is that the development of gender-based social protection systems in sub-Saharan Africa is of particular importance as, through increased gender equality and overall social protection systems, the region's prosperity increases, and levels of extreme poverty reduces.

Background: Mothers' smoking during pregnancy increases asthma risk in their offspring. There is some evidence that grandmothers' smoking may have a similar effect, and biological plausibility that fathers' smoking during adolescence may influence offspring's health through transmittable epigenetic changes in sperm precursor cells. We evaluated the three-generation associations of tobacco smoking with asthma.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2013, at the European Community Respiratory Health Survey III clinical interview, 2233 mothers and 1964 fathers from 26 centres reported whether their offspring (aged ≤51 years) had ever had asthma and whether it had coexisted with nasal allergies or not. Mothers and fathers also provided information on their parents' (grandparents) and their own asthma, education and smoking history. Multilevel mediation models within a multicentre three-generation framework were fitted separately within the maternal (4666 offspring) and paternal (4192 offspring) lines.

Conclusions: Fathers' smoking during early adolescence and grandmothers' and mothers' smoking during pregnancy may independently increase asthma risk in offspring. Thus, risk factors for asthma should be sought in both parents and before conception.

The convergence of quantitative genetics of complex traits with genomic technologies is quickly becoming an innovative approach to explore fundamental genetic questions and also have practical consequences for implementations in tree breeding. In this thesis, I used genomic selection and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to dissect the genetic basis of quantitative traits, i.e. growth, phenology and wood property traits. I also assessed the importance of dominance and epistatic effects in hybrid Eucalyptus. Both dominance and epistasis are important in hybrids, as they are the likely contributing to the genetic basis of heterosis. To successfully implement genomic selection models, several important factors have to be considered. I found that for a good model establishment, both the size and composition of the training population, as well as the number of SNPs to be important considered. Based on the optimal models, additive, dominance and epistasis genetic effects of growth and wood traits have been estimated to evaluate genetic parameters and how these influence the prediction accuracy, which can be used in selecting elite breeding individuals or clones. I also addressed the advantage of genotyping-based analyses by showing that we could accurately correct pedigree information errors. More importantly, genotyping-based analyses capture both Mendelian segregation variation within full-sib families and cryptic genetic links through unknown common ancestors, which are not available from traditional pedigree data. GWAS were used to analyse growth and phenology related traits. Using a single-trait GWAS method, we identified a region strongly associated with the timing of bud set in Populus tremula, a trait with high heritability. For the growth related traits, we found that a multi-traits GWAS approach was more powerful than single-trait analyses as it identified more associated SNPs in hybrid Eucalyptus. Moreover, many more novel associated SNPs were identified from considering over-dominance effects in the GWAS analyses. After annotating the associated SNPs I show that these functional candidate genes were related to growth and responding to abiotic and biotic stress. In summary, the results of genomic selection and GWAS provided a deeper understanding of the genetic backgrounds of quantitative traits in forest trees.

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), partially attributable to systemic inflammation and traditional risk factors for CVD. Since physical activity (PA) is strongly related to CVD in the general population, the aim of this thesis was to describe aspects of PA in patients with RA, and further to analyse associations with disease activity, traditional risk factors for CVD and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods: In papers I and II, newly diagnosed RA patients were followed for two (n=66) and mean (SD) 16 (2) (n=25) years respectively. Disease activity and aerobic capacity were measured in both groups.​ In paper II, the 25 patients were also examined for traditional risk factors for CVD, body composition, with pulse wave analysis and carotid ultrasound. Self-efficacy was assessed using a questionnaire. In paper III, a combined heart rate and movement monitor was used to measure PA in 84 patients with early (<2 years) and 37 patients with long-standing (mean [SD] 16 [2] years) RA. Data were analysed for associations with disease activity, traditional risk factors for CVD and subclinical atherosclerosis, as above. Finally, in paper IV, a pilot study including 13 patients, median (Q1-Q3) age 57 (44-64) years, was conducted to analyse the feasibility as well as the effects of ten weeks of spinning exercise, on aerobic capacity, traditional risk factors for CVD and inflammation.

Results: In papers I and II, aerobic capacity was maintained at follow-up. In paper I, median (Q1-Q3) aerobic capacity was 31 (27-39) ml/kg x min at baseline and 33 (25-38) ml/kg x min after two years. In paper II, median (Q1-Q3) aerobic capacity was 32 (28-42) ml/kg x min at baseline and 33 (28-39) ml/kg x min after 16 years. In multiple linear regression analyses, adjusted for baseline aerobic capacity, disease activity during the first two years after diagnosis explained 53 % of the aerobic capacity level after 16 years [b=-0.14, p<0.004]. Higher aerobic capacity was associated with more favourable measures of risk factors for CVD and self-efficacy over time and at follow-up. In paper III, 37 % of the patients with early and 43 % of the patients with long-standing RA, did not reach the national recommendations of PA. Total PA as well as more time spent in moderate to vigorous PA were associated with more favourable risk factors for CVD. Patients with higher disease activity and functional disability were less physically active. In paper IV, intensive spinning exercise proved to be a feasible method, that significantly improved aerobic capacity, systolic blood pressure and the number of tender joints.

Conclusions: Aerobic capacity, which could be maintained despite several years of disease, was related to risk factors for CVD and to self-efficacy. Higher disease activity in early disease predicted lower aerobic capacity after 16 years. Higher PA level was associated with a more beneficial cardiovascular profile, however, an insufficient level of PA was found in a substantial proportion of patients. Furthermore, we found, that intensive spinning exercise was a feasible method for the group included, to improve aerobic capacity and blood pressure without detrimental effects on disease activity. Physical activity and aerobic capacity have roles to play in the cardio protective management and are, as other modifiable risk factors, suggested to be estimated regularly. Higher disease activity is known to increase the risk of CVD in RA, and as disease activity also seems to negatively impact future aerobic capacity, interventions and support for health enhancing PA should have high priority in these patients.

This Master thesis aims to explore and investigate the level of knowledge within the work environment for craftsmen apprentices in the construction industry.

The Master thesis is executed as a collaboration with Peab, one of the Nordic region’s leading construction and civil engineering companies. They have experienced a lack of knowledge from craftsmen apprentices in their way to implement safety measurements in their daily work. This master thesis is as part of Peabs vision of zero tolerance regarding accidents in the working environment.

Statistics, surveys and interviews have been carried out to establige those parts of the working environment where the safety is lacking for the craftsmen apprentices. With these methods it has been confirmed that Peab cannot assume that the craftsmen apprentices have the knowledge within working environment that is required for the work he or she is obligated to perform.

To ensure a healthy working environment for craftsmen apprentices, avoid accidents and injuries caused by working with inadequate techniques in a long period of time, recommendations on how to address the issue is required.

Suggestions on improvement is to implement an introduction for craftsmen apprentices, organized in the beginning of their employment, focusing on working environment and the attitude towards it. Another suggestion would be to get the craftsmen apprentice to participate in the regular security checks that are carried out within the work place. This will continue thru out their period of being an apprentice.

Objectives: In an occupational environment, passive sampling could be an alternative to active sampling with pumps for sampling of dust. One passive sampler is the University of North Carolina passive aerosol sampler (UNC sampler). It is often analysed by microscopic imaging. Promising results have been shown for particles above 2.5 µm, but indicate large underestimations for PM2.5. The aim of this study was to evaluate, and possibly improve, the UNC sampler for stationary sampling in a working environment.

Methods: Sampling was carried out at 8-h intervals during 24 h in four locations in an open pit mine with UNC samplers, respirable cyclones, PM10 and PM2.5 impactors, and an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS). The wind was minimal. For quantification, two modifications of the UNC sampler analysis model, UNC sampler with hybrid model and UNC sampler with area factor, were compared with the original one, UNC sampler with mesh factor derived from wind tunnel experiments. The effect of increased resolution for the microscopic imaging was examined.

Results: Use of the area factor and a higher resolution eliminated the underestimation for PM10 and PM2.5. The model with area factor had the overall lowest deviation versus the impactor and the cyclone. The intraclass correlation (ICC) showed that the UNC sampler had a higher precision and better ability to distinguish between different exposure levels compared to the cyclone (ICC: 0.51 versus 0.24), but lower precision compared to the impactor (PM10: 0.79 versus 0.99; PM2.5: 0.30 versus 0.45). The particle size distributions as calculated from the different UNC sampler analysis models were visually compared with the distributions determined by APS. The distributions were obviously different when the UNC sampler with mesh factor was used but came to a reasonable agreement when the area factor was used.

Conclusions: High resolution combined with a factor based on area only, results in no underestimation of small particles compared to impactors and cyclones and a better agreement with the APS’s particle size distributions. The UNC sampler had lower precision than the impactors, but higher than the respirable cyclone. The UNC sampler with area factor could be used for PM2.5, PM10 and respirable fraction measurements in this working environment without wind.

Background: No studies have estimated disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost due to hip fractures using real-life follow-up cohort data. We aimed to quantify the burden of disease due to incident hip fracture using DALYs in prospective cohorts in the CHANCES consortium, and to calculate population attributable fractions based on DALYs for specific risk factors.

Methods: We used data from six cohorts of participants aged 50 years or older at recruitment to calculate DALYs. We applied disability weights proposed by the National OsteoporosisFoundation and did a series of sensitivity analyses to examine the robustness of DALY estimates. We calculated population attributable fractions for smoking, body-mass index (BMI), physical activity, alcohol intake, type 2 diabetes and parity, use of hormone replacement therapy, and oral contraceptives in women. We calculated summary risk estimates across cohorts with pooled analysis and random-effects meta-analysis methods.

Findings: 223 880 men and women were followed up for a mean of 13 years (SD 6). 7724 (3·5%) participants developed an incident hip fracture, of whom 413 (5·3%) died as a result. 5964 DALYs (27 per 1000 individuals) were lost due to hip fractures, 1230 (20·6%) of which were in the group aged 75–79 years. 4150 (69·6%) DALYs were attributed to disability. Current smoking was the risk factor responsible for the greatest hip fracture burden (7·5%, 95% CI 5·2–9·7) followed by physical inactivity (5·5%, 2·1–8·5), history of diabetes (2·8%, 2·1–4·0), and low to average BMI (2·0%, 1·4–2·7), whereas low alcohol consumption (0·01–2·5 g per day) and high BMI had a protective effect.

Interpretation: Hip fracture can lead to a substantial loss of healthy life-years in elderly people. National public health policies should be strengthened to reduce hip fracture incidence and mortality. Primary prevention measures should be strengthened to prevent falls, and reduce smoking and a sedentary lifestyle.

The greatest advantage of Information Technology (IT) is its ability in entitling personnel to achieve their goals. Allowing personnel to grasp knowledge and skills they weren’t aware of previously, rendering to a sense that it’s all about potential; as expressed by former CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer. Internet of Things (IoT) data, according to ORACLE (2017), provides insight from new data collected and provides solutions. Thus, allowing businesses to achieve new innovative services at a more efficient and productive manner while reducing the risk factors. Proving that the connections between the organisation and devices are securely connected, analysed, and integrated simultaneously with IoT data. Project Management (PM) the leading discipline in management that benefits enterprises through actual and operative management of change through its systematic approach of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring & controlling, Testing & Commissioning and finally Handing Over to the client the project; managing various types of projects with various drivers of change and uncertainty. (Sawyer, L. 2016). As significant as technology has become in our lives, this study aims in highlighting the importance of Internet of Things and the synergic implementation of Project Management disciplines in project-oriented organisations. It also explores the challenges, barriers, and benefits of IoT in synergy with PM disciplines. The paper also considered one of the most crucial elements of any organization or business, people, fixating on project managers and how the role of a project manager is affected in the innovative project oriented organizations.

We present a new approach for adding Bernoulli beam reinforcements to Kirchhoff plates. The plate is discretised using a continuous/discontinuous finite element method based on standard continuous piecewise polynomial finite element spaces. The beams are discretised by the CutFEM technique of letting the basis functions of the plate represent also the beams which are allowed to pass through the plate elements. This allows for a fast and easy way of assessing where the plate should be supported, for instance, in an optimization loop.

Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health. Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, South Africa; MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mutations in COQ8B cause steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with variable neurological involvement. In yeast, COQ8 encodes a protein required for coenzyme Q (CoQ) biosynthesis, whose precise role is not clear. Humans harbor two paralog genes: COQ8A and COQ8B (previously termed ADCK3 and ADCK4). We have found that COQ8B is a mitochondrial matrix protein peripherally associated with the inner membrane. COQ8B can complement a Delta COQ8 yeast strain when its mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) is replaced by a yeast MTS. This model was employed to validate COQ8B mutations, and to establish genotype-phenotype correlations. All mutations affected respiratory growth, but there was no correlation between mutation type and the severity of the phenotype. In fact, contrary to the case of COQ2, where residual CoQ biosynthesis correlates with clinical severity, patients harboring hypomorphic COQ8B alleles did not display a different phenotype compared with those with null mutations. These data also suggest that the system is redundant, and that other proteins (probably COQ8A) may partially compensate for the absence of COQ8B. Finally, a COQ8B polymorphism, present in 50% of the European population (NM_024876.3:c.521A > G, p.His174Arg), affects stability of the protein and could represent a risk factor for secondary CoQ deficiencies or for other complex traits.

Aims/hypothesis: There is considerable variability in how diabetes progresses after diagnosis. Progression modelling has largely focused on 'time to failure' methods, yet determining a 'coefficient of failure' has many advantages. We derived a rate of glycaemic deterioration in type 2 diabetes, using a large real-world cohort, and aimed to investigate the clinical, biochemical, pharmacological and immunological variables associated with fast and slow rates of glycaemic deterioration. Methods: An observational cohort study was performed using the electronic medical records from participants in the Genetics of Diabetes Audit and Research in Tayside Study (GoDARTS). A model was derived based on an individual's observed HbA(1c) measures from the first eligible HbA(1c) after the diagnosis of diabetes through to the study end (defined as insulin initiation, death, leaving the area or end of follow-up). Each HbA(1c) measure was time-dependently adjusted for the effects of non-insulin glucose-lowering drugs, changes in BMI and corticosteroid use. GAD antibody (GADA) positivity was defined as GAD titres above the 97.5th centile of the population distribution. Results: The mean (95% CI) glycaemic deterioration for type 2 diabetes and GADA-positive individuals was 1.4 (1.3, 1.4) and 2.8 (2.4, 3.3) mmol/mol HbA(1c) per year, respectively. A younger age of diagnosis, lower HDL-cholesterol concentration, higher BMI and earlier calendar year of diabetes diagnosis were independently associated with higher rates of glycaemic deterioration in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The rate of deterioration in those diagnosed at over 70 years of age was very low, with 66% having a rate of deterioration of less than 1.1 mmol/mol HbA(1c) per year, and only 1.5% progressing more rapidly than 4.4 mmol/mol HbA(1c) per year. Conclusions/interpretation: We have developed a novel approach for modelling the progression of diabetes in observational data across multiple drug combinations. This approach highlights how glycaemic deterioration in those diagnosed at over 70 years of age is minimal, supporting a stratified approach to diabetes management.

Objective: To explore obstetricians' experiences and views of the use of obstetric ultrasound in clinical management of pregnancy. Methods: A qualitative interview study was undertaken in 2015 with obstetricians (N = 20) in Norway as part of the CROss Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS). Results: Three categories developed during analyses. 'Differing opinions about ultrasound and prenatal diagnosis policies' revealed divergent views in relation to Norwegian policies for ultrasound screening and prenatal diagnosis. Down syndrome screening was portrayed as a delicate and frequently debated issue, with increasing ethical challenges due to developments in prenatal diagnosis. 'Ultrasound's influence on the view of the fetus' illuminated how ultrasound influenced obstetricians' views of the fetus as a 'patient' and a 'person'. They also saw ultrasound as strongly influencing expectant parents' views of the fetus, and described how ultrasound was sometimes used as a means of comforting women when complications occurred. The complexity of information and counselling' revealed how obstetricians balanced the medical and social aspects of the ultrasound examination, and the difficulties of 'delivering bad news' and counselling in situations of uncertain findings. Conclusion: This study highlights obstetricians' experiences and views of ultrasound and prenatal diagnosis in Norwegian maternity care and the challenges associated with the provision of these services, including counselling dilemmas and perceived differences in expectations between caregivers and expectant parents. There was notable diversity among these obstetricians in relation to their support of, and adherence to Norwegian regulations about the use of ultrasound, which indicates that the care pregnant women receive may vary accordingly.

We review the consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services from the industrial-scale extraction of logging residues (tops, branches and stumps from harvested trees and small-diameter trees from thinnings) in managed forests. Logging residue extraction can replace fossil fuels, and thus contribute to climate change mitigation. The additional biomass and nutrients removed, and soils and other structures disturbed, have several potential environmental impacts. To evaluate potential impacts on ecosystem services and biodiversity we reviewed 279 scientific papers that compared logging residue extraction with non-extraction, the majority of which were conducted in Northern Europe and North America. The weight of available evidence indicates that logging residue extraction can have significant negative effects on biodiversity, especially for species naturally adapted to sun-exposed conditions and the large amounts of dead wood that are created by large-scaled forest disturbances. Slash extraction may also pose risks for future biomass production itself, due to the associated loss of nutrients. For water quality, reindeer herding, mammalian game species, berries, and natural heritage the results were complicated by primarily negative but some positive effects, while for recreation and pest control positive effects were more consistent. Further, there are initial negative effects on carbon storage, but these effects are transient and carbon stocks are mostly restored over decadal time perspectives. We summarize ways of decreasing some of the negative effects of logging residue extraction on specific ecosystem services, by changing the categories of residue extracted, and site or forest type targeted for extraction. However, we found that suggested pathways for minimizing adverse outcomes were often in conflict among the ecosystem services assessed. Compensatory measures for logging residue extraction may also be used (e.g. ash recycling, liming, fertilization), though these may also be associated with adverse environmental impacts.

Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health. Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Falun, Sweden; School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.

Dalton, James

Johansson, Helene

Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health.

Sorensen, Julie

Jenkins, Paul

Weinehall, Lars

Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health.

BACKGROUND: Despite various guidelines, shortcomings in lifestyle counseling in primary care have been demonstrated. Comparisons between countries may provide insight on how to improve such counseling. To the best of our knowledge, studies comparing patients' views of lifestyle counseling beween the United States (US) and European countries have not been reported.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify and compare patients' perspectives in the US and Sweden on primary care providers' counseling on weight, eating habits, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 629 patients from Sweden and the US completed a telephone interview about their experiences after a visit to a physician in primary care. The survey focused on patients' perception of the importance of healthy lifestyle habits, their need to change, their desire to receive support from primary care, and the support they had actually received. Data were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS: For three of the four lifestyle habits, the proportion saying they needed to change was higher in the US. The exception was for alcohol, where Swedish subjects indicated a greater need to change. Among those stating a need to change, the proportion saying that they would like to have support from primary care was generally above 80% in both countries. The proportion of US patients reporting that their primary care provider had initiated a discussion of lifestyle modification was, with the exception of alcohol, roughly double the level reported by the Swedish patients.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates high and quite similar patient expectations concerning lifestyle counseling in both countries, but more frequent initiation of discussions of most lifestyle issues in US primary care. Further studies, e.g. qualitative interviews with physicians, and medical record reviews, are required to better understand what can explain the differences between countries indicated by the study.

Calculations on stress, strain and deformation are typically made using finite element methods (FEM). An alternative to this is a rigid bodydynamics approach also called lumped element method (LEM). LEM implements deformation by replacing single rigid bodies with multiple subbodies, which are in turn connected with joints (also called constraints) that allow movement between the sub-bodies. If instead of FEM, a lumped element method is used to simulate deformable objects, sufficient accuracy can be obtained at a much lower cost, complexity-wise. A lumped element method-approach could for example achieve real-time simulationspeed.

The purpose of this thesis is to expand upon previous work into LEM, analyzing how the rigid bodies and constraints should be configured to produce accurate results for a wider range of objects. Specifically, beams of varying cross section and curved beam axis, as well as other test cases. The simulated values are compared with the analytic predictions given by Euler-Bernoulli beam theory.

These simulations are implemented using the AGX Dynamics physics engine from Algoryx Simulation AB.

One intended application area of LEM is crane arms. This motivates the focus on analyzing how LEM behaves when simulating beams, as they represent the most basic version of crane arms. Simulation and testing of full crane objects was unfortunately not accomplished, partly due to a lack of convenient testing data. Further work is needed to confirm that LEM behaves well for these expanded cases as well.

In addition to the analysis section above, the purpose is also to implement a pipeline for automatic conversion of a CAD-model to a lumped element version in AGX. Specifically, a CAD-model given in the 3D-modeling software SpaceClaim.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are characterized by genomic rearrangements and point mutations in the proto-oncogene RET. Leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains 1 (LRIG1) is a suppressor of various receptor tyrosine kinases, including RET. LRIG1 expression levels are associated with patient survival in many cancer types. In the present study, we investigated whether the oncogenic RET mutants RET2A (C634R) and RET2B (M918T) were regulated by LRIG1, and the possible effects of LRIG1 expression in thyroid cancer were investigated in three different clinical cohorts and in a RET2B-driven mouse model of MTC. LRIG1 was shown to physically interact with both RET2A and RET2B and to restrict their ligand-independent activation. LRIG1 mRNA levels were downregulated in PTC and MTC compared to normal thyroid gland tissue. There was no apparent association between LRIG1 RNA or protein expression levels and patient survival in the studied cohorts. The transgenic RET2B mice developed pre-cancerous medullary thyroid lesions at a high frequency (36%); however, no overt cancers were observed. There was no significant difference in the incidence of pre-cancerous lesions between Lrig1 wild-type and Lrig1-deficient RET2B mice. In conclusion, the findings that LRIG1 is a negative regulator of RET2A and RET2B and is also downregulated in PTC and MTC may suggest that LRIG1 functions as a thyroid tumor suppressor.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of different training surfaces (hard or sand surface) on agility and passing skills of prepubescent female volleyball players. 45 prepubescent girls (age: 11.1 ± 0.5 years) participated in this study and were separated in three groups. Groups S (N=15) and I (N=15) consisted of volleyball players, while group C (N=15) consisted of girls that had no volleyball training experience. All groups participated in a 10-week (3 days/week) volleyball training program that included technical and passing skills exercises. The program of groups S and I also included jumping and sprinting exercises. The training program of group S was conducted on sand surface, while groups I and C trained on hard surface. Measurements of agility (T-test and 505-test) and passing skills were conducted on both hard and sand surface before, in the middle (5th week) and after the end of the training program for groups S and I. Group C was tested only on hard surface before and after the training period. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA for independent samples. Agility T-test and 505-test were significantly (p<0.001) improved in all three groups after the 10-week training program. Agility improvement of group S was significantly (p<0.001) greater than the other two groups (I and C), regardless of the surface (hard or sand) that the test was executed. Group S achieved greater improvements than the other two groups in passing skills too. All three groups were significantly (p<0.001) improved in overhead and forearm passing accuracy after the 10-week training period, but it was group S that achieved the greatest improvement, regardless of the (hard or sand) that the test was executed. In conclusion training on sand surface could be a useful and effective tool for improving agility and passing skills in prepubescent female volleyball players

The aim of this study, is to describe and analyse the sense making processes that are supposed to lead to music understanding among students at an upper secondary school with a fine arts program in music. In focus for my study is the teachers and the students’ lifeworld inside this program. I want to find out more about their thoughts in words and action, and in what different ways the interaction between the teachers and students takes place. Of interest is also the interaction between the students themselves. The method I have chosen for this qualitative study is based on observations of some music lessons. As a complementary to the observations, I have also performed interviews with two teachers and six of the students that are studying their last year at this music program. The selection of the informants is limited to only this group of students and their teachers. The observations and the interviews took place during autumn 2017. My idea to choose this group of student informants at the age of 19, is that they probably have a greater experience of music education compared to younger students. And that they more easily can describe their music understanding and development. Some conclusions I have made from this study, is that many of the students I interviewed connects music learning to a musical instrument. It seems that they don’t value knowledge in singing as a tool to develop music skills. Through the diversity of music topics, the students are studying during their three years in this music program, it seems every individual acquires a good general knowledge of music.

Purpose: The present study investigated the effects of different training surfaces on physiological characteristics of prepubescent female volleyball players.

Method: 45 prepubescent girls (age: 11.1 ± 0.5 years) were separated in groups S (N=15) and H (N=15) that consisted of volleyball players, while group C (N=15) consisted of girls that had no volleyball training experience. Groups S and H participated in a 10-week volleyball training program including sprints, jumps and technical exercises, while group C executed only technical skills exercises. Group S trained on sand surface, while groups H and C trained on hard surface indoors. Aerobic capacity (20m shuttle run), agility (Illinois test), countermovement (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) as well as 10m sprint test were conducted before, in the middle (5th week) and after the end of the training program for groups S and H. Group C was tested only before and after the training period.

Results: Aerobic capacity, agility, jumping and sprinting ability were significantly (p<0.01) improved in groups S and H even from the 5th week of training. Group S achieved greater improvements than group H in all tested variables.

Background: The challenges of today's society call for more knowledge about how to maintain all aspects of cognitive health, such as speed/attention, memory/learning, visuospatial ability, language, executive capacity and social cognition during the life course. Main text: Medical advances have improved treatments of numerous diseases, but the cognitive implications have not been sufficiently addressed. Disability induced by cognitive dysfunction is also a major issue in groups of patients not suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. Recent studies indicate that several negative lifestyle factors can contribute to the development of cognitive impairment, but intervention and prevention strategies have not been implemented. Disability due to cognitive failure among the workforce has become a major challenge. Globally, the changing aging pyramid results in increased prevalence of cognitive disorders, and the diversity of cultures influences the expression, manifestation and consequences of cognitive dysfunction. Conclusions: Major tasks in the field of cognitive medicine are basic neuroscience research to uncover diverse disease mechanisms, determinations of the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction, health-economical evaluations, and intervention studies. Raising awareness for cognitive medicine as a clinical topic would also highlight the importance of specialized health care units for an integrative approach to the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions.